Maiden Optional Claiming

Chart notes

PIPERS REIGN was allowed to settle near the back of the field having only two rivals beaten along the backside, took the short way around the bend saving all the ground, made a savvy move skimming the fence while the field was fanning out ten abreast turning for home, closed in sharply in the two path by mid-stretch figuring which path to take when coming up to the leaders and darted inside up the rail to drive past at the sixteenth pole for the stretch running score. LOVER BOY MO was part of the fray up front having the rail on the start, settled into stride on the fence at the half in the second flight watching the contesting trio on the turn, moved in two wide to sit just behind the embattled duo entering the stretch, shifted out posing a threat in the four path with clear run at the three sixteenths pole, veered in behind a weakening rival when asked right handed shying from the crop at the eight pole losing his momentum, got going again on the incorrect lead back outside in deep stretch and kept trying to the finish line just getting up for the place share right on the wire. RED WEAVER was hustled on the fence taking this field down the backside, continued inside with initially two other rivals forcing the issue outside into the turn, still remained in front narrowly in midturn with only one close pursuer to his outside, was headed outside at the top of the stretch, found another gear continuing to fend off the early foe who did not appear to want to go away, conceded the lead to the winner who was making a late charge on the fence with a sixteenth from home and just missed saving the runners up share in a tight finish at the wire. TOTAL SENSATION pressed the issue up front going three deep along the backside, dueled outside the leader when the other front end rival dropped back at the seven sixteenths marker, shifted three wide for the stretch drive battling determinedly to the sixteenth pole getting a little leg weary late and faded in deep stretch just saving for a minor placing at the wire. PARADISE PERFECT co-trailed on the outside, still remained near the rear outside another foe around the bend, closed the gap swinging out widest in the eleven path at the top of the lane, had a very good sustained rally down the stretch gaining with every stride and almost got up for a minor role in a tight finish at the wire. VELOCIRAPTOR had the rail position in midfield, continued to save ground while in the third grouping midway on the turn, was in the mix of things in the three path straightening out for home, shifted out five wide running greenly weaving in when switching back to the incorrect lead under right-handed encouragement at the furlong pole and could not offer a finish in deep stretch. TORONTO CITY had rivals on either side while sitting in midfield down the backstretch, still remained between foes midpoint around the bend in the third tier, shifted out to the six-path finding a seam at the top of the lane and finished with interest even though not gaining position at the wire but closing the gap on the leaders in the end. COUNTRYBOYSURVIVE travelled between horses in the second flight in the early stages, made a brief run three wide at the three eighths marker, angled out eight wide in upper stretch but lacked a rally down the lane to the finish line. SILENT KNIGHT settled in the middle of the pack going four deep on the outside along the backstretch, travelled in the third flight of runners three wide at the three eighths pole, made a quick move ten wide closing the gap at the quarter pole but could only finish up one paced between rivals down the lane. PAYNES SPIRIT vied between runners down the back straight, continued up top with challengers on either side in the early part of the turn, was checked backing up abruptly at the seven sixteenths pole, recovered in the five path with a quarter mile to go having a chance for a small share of the prize but yielded on the fence by the furlong marker. FINE STYLE travelled three deep in the second flight along the backside, was scrubbed for more run at the three eighths pole, offered little response regressing with five sixteenths from home, was in tight losing his path shifting out to the ten-path straightening out for the drive and could not factor in the late stages. TANIST co-trailed on the inside, lagged well behind the field on the turn, shifted out eight wide turning for home and could not get involved in the stretch running moving in to four path by the furlong marker.